A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital after a serious crash on the Weymouth to Bridport coast road.

Emergency services rushed to the B3157 just outside Swyre at around 7pm yesterday evening.

The Portland Coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled to the scene and took a 57-year-old Weymouth man to Dorset County Hospital.

Police said that paramedics first thought that he had suffered life threatening injuries but the severity of his injuries was later downgraded to 'serious but not life threatening'.

Police said that no other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Officers put major road closures in place from the Crown roundabout at Bridport and New Road junction in Portesham in anticipation of major investigation.

Police have appealed for witnesses but also thanked the public for their help.

“The rider was taken by coastguard helicopter to DCH where he is being treated for serious but not life threatening injuries.

“Police would like to thank those members of the public who stopped at the scene to render assistance to the casualty and later made themselves know to the police to what they had witnessed.”

The incident happened on the west side of the village on the road towards Burton Bradstock.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: “We were called to act as an air ambu¬lance for an injured 58-year-old man. He was taken to Dorset County Hospital.”

The B3157 was reopened at around 10pm.

Nicky Lane, of Vurlands Farm at Swyre, said: “The coastguard helicopter landed.”

Cyril Loveridge, of Chesil Beach Lodge, near Burton Bradstock, said: “I saw police cars or paramedics go past.”

Eonne Sinclair, chairman of the Coast Road Action Committee, said: “How many more accidents and fatalities do we have to witness before the authorities take seriously our request to make the B3157 a safe road to drive on?”

Anyone with information or who witnessed the crash should contact Dorset Police on 101.